Marking disc for pool games

ABSTRACT

Thin plate-like body members are each provided with an equally thin magnetic pad for securing the body members to the periphery of a pool table so as to present a low profile. The body members each have a circular configuration with indicia thereon which simulates and identifies a different group of pool balls and the body numbers are each positioned on the edge of the pool table to mark the pocket on the table in which the last ball of a respective group was deposited.

D United States Patent 1 1111 3,881,727

Olson May 6, 1975 [54] MARKING DISC FOR POOL GAMES 3,716,935 2/1973Friederichs 35/7 A X [76] inventor: Michael L. Olson, 34 Pines EdgeFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS Mobile Eau Claire, 5470 842,480 7/1960United Kingdom..............,.... 35 7 A [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham [21] Appl' 397388 AssistantExaminer-R. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Merchant, Gould, Smith& 521 US. (:1. 273/14; 40/325; 116/120 [51] Int. Cl A63d 15/00 [58]Field of Search 273/1 M, 2, 3 R, 8, 9, [57] ABSTRACT 273/1 1 U 32 187 A;35/7 29 Thin plate-like body members are each provided with R; 40/2 1423271 325; 116/120 an equally thin magnetic pad for securing the bodymembers to the periphery of a pool table so as to pres- [56] Referencescued ent a low profile. The body members each have a cir- U I S SPATENTS cular configuration with indicia thereon which simu- 964,236 71910 0111110 273/11 R at s and identifies a different group of ool ballsand 2,643,466 6/1953 the body numbers are each positioned on the edge of3,080,664 3/1963 the pool table to mark the pocket on the table in3,136,547 6/1964 which the last ball of a respective group was depos-3,237,94l 3/1966 itecL 3,684,294 8/1972 3,711,091 1/1973 2 Claims, 6Drawing Figures MARKING DISC FOR POOL GAMES The present inventionrelates to marking devices in general and is specifically concerned witha marking device adapted for use with pool tables.

In the game of pocket pool a rectangular table with six peripheralpockets, a cue stick, cue ball, and fifteen additional balls arenormally employed. The additional balls are divided into two groups. Afirst group of balls (l-8) are each solidly colored with an identifyingnumber thereon and a second group of balls (9-15) each have acircumferential stripe with a number in the stripe. In the specific gameof eight ball a first single or group of players shoots a first group ofsolid colored balls (I-7) while a second single or group of playersshoots a second group of striped balls (945) until such time as a lastball of a given group is deposited in a given pocket. Thereafter, theplayers or one of the group of players of such group must deposit theeight ball in the same pocket the last ball entered. In practice, thereare constant and considerable disputes as to which pocket the last ballwent into when no positive means for identifying the particcular pocketare used.

The present invention contemplates providing a pair of markers, whichare constructed to simulate a ball in a given one of the groups ofballs, for indicating into which pocket the last ball of the particulargroup was deposited. Each marker includes a circular plate-like bodymember having a magnetic pad secured to one planar opposite surface areathereof whereby the body member may be retained in position adjacent thepocket to be indicated. The body member and magnet have relatively thinmaterial thicknesses and cooperate with each other to present anextremely low profile so as to reduce the chance of accidentaldislodgement from a marking position on the peripheral edge of the pooltable. Identification means, in the form of indicia applied to the otherplanar opposite surface area of the body members, is employed todifierentiate between the body members and indicate the first and secondgroup of pool balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings wherein likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the views;

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a conventional pool tableillustrating the use of a pair of markers constructed in accordance withthe present invention thereon;

FIGS. 2 and are top plan views of the markers shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a marker of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the marker of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 6-6 of FIG.1, on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIG. 1 ofthe drawings, a conventional pool table is indicated generally by thenumeral 10. Typically, such pool tables 10 are formed to include aperipheral edge portion 11, a playing surface 12, and a plurality ofpockets [3 (in this case six) arranged in the pattern shown at spacedpoints peripherally of the playing surface 12. Cue sticks, not shown,

are usually provided to shoot a cue ball 14 in a direction to strike oneof a plurality of additional balls 15 to cause them to be deposited in aselected one of the pockets 13.

As above described, constant and considerable disputes have arisen as towhich pocket the last ball went into in the pool game of eight ball". Toalleviate this problem, 1 provide a pair of markers A, B for indicatinga given position relative to the peripheral edge 11 of the pool table10. Markers A, B are formed from a pair of relatively thin plate-likebody members 20, 21 each having planar, opposite surface areasidentified at 22, 23 respectively. In the present embodiment, each ofthe markers A, B is formed with an identical configuration and differonly in identification means for differentiating one of the body members20 from the other of the body members 21 so as to indicate a first andsecond group of pool balls 15, as will be described hereinafter.Therefore, in the interest of brevity, reference numerals designatingthe various parts of the marker A will apply to the like parts of themarker B.

Each marker A, B includes a retainer means associated with one of theopposite surface areas 23 of each body member 20, 21 for maintaining theposition of the body members 20, 21 at a given location on theperipheral edge 11 of the pool table 10, see FIGS. 1 and 6. As seen,particularly in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the retainer means 25 of each bodymember 20, 21 has a relatively thin thickness dimension which issubstantially equal to that of a respective body member 20, 21. Thus thebody members 20, 21 cooperate with their respective retainer means 25 topresent a relatively low profile when supported on the peripheral edge11 of the pool table 10, see FIG. 6. This, of course, reduces theprobability that a marker A, B will be accidentally dislodged from theperipheral edge 11 by the arm of a player so as to fall either on to theplaying surface 12, or to the floor.

In practice, the retainer means 25 may be formed from a material havingan extremely high coefficient of friction with supporting surfaces onwhich the markers A, B may be placed. However, as illustrated in FIG. 6of the drawings, pool tables 10 presently manufactured generallyincorporate a metallic skin 26 which encloses the wood material whichgenerally forms the peripheral edge I] of the pool table 10. Such metalskins 26 are normally provided with a painted simulated wood surfacewhich is extremely smooth and which provides a surface having anextremely low coefficient of friction relative to an article supportedthereon. With this in mind, the retainer means 25 of the markers A, Bpreferably takes the form of a magnet which will be magneticallyattracted to the metallic skin 26. The magnet forming the retainingmeans 25 may be formed from a relatively thin flexible plastic materialhaving magnetic particles embedded therein which is presently availableon the market. The latter type retaining means 25 would, of course, aidin retaining the markers A, B in a position should the peripheral edge11 be constructed solely of wood or other nonmagnetically attractablematerial. While the magnetical type retainer means 25 is preferred,other retainer forms may be employed. For example, a projection or thelike may be provided to penetrate and anchor the body members 20, 21directly to the rubber pad lla normally associated with the peripheraledge 11. A further example might be a fabric type material, such as thatavailable under the 3 trademark VELCRO. Such material would, whenpressed against the felt fabric enclosing the bumper 11a, adhere theretosufficiently to secure the body members 20, 21 in place.

Identification means for differentiating one of the body members fromthe other body member 21, whereby to indicate a first and second groupof pool balls 15 associated with the pool table 10, is provided. Each ofthe body members 20, 21 is of a plate-like circular configuration andincludes identification means in the form of indicia 22a, 22b applied tothe surface 22 of each body member 20, 21 in a manner to simulate agiven group of pool balls 15. With respect to body member 20, indicia22a is applied in the form of a solid color with a numerical designationdisposed generally centrally of the body member 20. With respect to thebody member 21, the indicia 22b is applied in the form of a solidcolored stripe extending diametrically of the body member 21 with anumerical designation disposed generally centrally of the solid coloredstripe. in this manner, the marker A represents a first group of solidcolored balls 15 (l-7) while the marker B represents a second group ofstriped balls 15 (9-15).

Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that placement of markers A, B onthe edge 11 of pool table 12 will positively identify the particularpocket in which a last ball 15 of the group of balls 15 entered and theproper pocket 13 into which the final eight ball 15a must be depositedby a given player.

In addition to their obvious utility as marking devices, the markers A,B may in addition serve as an advertising media by applying suitabletrademarks, logos, brand names, etc. to the open spaces of the surfacearea 22, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

l. A pool table including a set of balls for playing the game of pooland a pair of markers for indicating given positions relative to theperipheral edge of the pool table, in combination, comprising:

a. said pool table having a playing surface, a plurality of pocketspositioned at spaced points peripherally of the playing surface, and aperipheral edge portion surrounding the playing surface;

b. said set of balls including a first group of pool balls provided withindicia of a first design on the surface of each pool ball thereof todesignate said first group as the solid color group and a second groupof pool balls provided with indicia of a second design on the surface ofeach pool ball thereof different from said indicia of said first groupof pool balls to designate said second group as the striped color group;

c. said pair of markers comprising a pair of relatively thin plate-likebody members each having opposite surface areas;

d. retainer means associated with one of said opposite surface areas ofeach body member for maintaining the position of said body members at agiven location on said peripheral edge of the pool table;

e. identification means associated with the other of said oppositesurface areas of each body member for differentiating one of said bodymembers from the other of said body members;

f. the identifcation means of one body member simulating the design ofsaid first group of pool balls; g. the identification means of the otherbody member simulating the design of said second group of pool balls;and

h. said retainer means of each body member having a relatively thinthickness dimension substantially equal to that of respective bodymembers whereby said body members and respective retainer meanscooperate to present a relatively low profile when supported on theperipheral edge of the pool table.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said peripheral edge of the pooltable is formed to include a magnetic material and wherein said retainermeans is a magnet associated with said one surface area of each bodymember.

* a: :0: a m

1. A pool table including a set of balls for playing the game of pool and a pair of markers for indicating given positions relative to the peripheral edge of the pool table, in combination, comprising: a. said pool table having a playing surface, a plurality of pockets positioned at spaced points peripherally of the playing surface, and a peripheral edge portion surrounding the playing surface; b. said set of balls including a first group of pool balls provided with indicia of a first design on the surface of each pool ball thereof to designate said first group as the solid color group and a second group of pool balls provided with indicia of a second design on the surface of each pool ball thereof different from said indicia of said first group of pool balls to designate said second group as the striped color group; c. said pair of markers comprising a pair of relatively thin plate-like body members each having opposite surface areas; d. retainer means associated with one of said opposite surface areas of each body member for maintaining the position of said body members at a given location on said peripheral edge of the pool table; e. identification means associated with the other of said opposite surface areas of each body member for differentiating one of said body members from the other of said body members; f. the identifcation means of one body member simulating the design of said first group of pool balls; g. the identification means of the other body member simulating the design of said second group of pool balls; and h. said retainer means of each body member having a relatively thin thickness dimension substantially equal to that of respective body members whereby said body members and respective retainer means cooperate to present a relatively low profile when supported on the peripheral edge of the pool table.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said peripheral edge of the pool table is formed to include a magnetic material and wherein said retainer means is a magnet associated with said one surface area of each body member. 